A JOURNEY TO DURBAN. 123 



the Tram Line. The third hunting-ground is in the 

 "Wood" or " Bush" that runs continuous to the beach, 

 and to one whose time and opportunities were limited its 

 proximity to the hotel rendered it available for an other- 

 wise busy man. Here butterflies haunt the narrow 

 paths, cicadas (at the time of my visit Platypleura 

 punctigera was the dominant species) utter their shrill 

 cries, and beetles are probably abundant at the com- 

 mencement of the wet summer season. I found here, 

 as at the Transvaal, that after rains, when the leaves 

 were damp, more beetles could be found on them than 

 in dry weather, when Coleoptera are to a greater extent 

 on the wing. 



It was a delightful sensation to be roaming: in these 



O O 



thickly wooded glades, though in Durban summer heat. 

 Butterflies abounded, of which the most common were 

 Acrcea natalica and Planema esebria, high up amongst 

 the trees flew Salamis anacardii, ever and anon down 

 the narrow paths came the sulphur-and-red Eronia leda ; 

 Papilio morania and P. demoleus were not uncommon, 

 whilst Teracolus of many species enlivened the scene. 

 In moths the gaily-marked Euchromia africana, by the 

 rapid vibration of its wings in flight, would cause con- 

 siderable doubt as to what insect was observed, and, 

 till I became acquainted with its peculiar habits, I 

 frequently mistook it for a species belonging to another 

 order of insects ; the modest Leptosoma apicalis was 

 found in shady nooks, and Aphelia apolinaris took long 

 and high flight in the clear light of noon-day. The 

 showy Neuropteron Palpopleura hicia flitted about, 

 and on blooming plants I not only found the handsome 

 beetle Popillia bipunctata, but a variety of Cetoniids 

 such as Coptomia umbrosa, Elaphinis irrorata and late- 

 costata, Trichostetha placida, and the curious Telephorid 

 Lyons bremei. 



For a naturalist, especially an entomologist, intending 

 to study the fauna of South-eastern Africa, Durban is 

 the best introduction to the country. A month spent 

 at this port collecting and observing w T ould give a 

 thorough introduction to the southern portion of the 



